Tale Of The Tape

Republican Chris Callaghan is also trying to capitalize on the loss four months ago ofÂ cartridge from the office of his opponent, state Comptroller Alan Hevesi, containing the personal information, including Social Security numbers, salaries and home addresses, of 1,318 state employees.

It took the comptroller’s office two weeks to acknowledge the loss, which it blamed on the state Office of General Services.

Then-OGS Commissioner Dan Hogan (who now heads the state Racing and Wagering Board) was not at all happy about that. He insisted his office was not at fault, and blasted the comptroller for not opting for the free tracking services OGS’ courier service offers to its customers.

Callaghan sought to link the two-week delay in notification by Hevesi’s office on the lost tape with the comptroller’s three-week delay in repaying the state for using a public employee as a chauffeur for his wife. The GOP candidate took another shot at Hevesi spokesman David Neustadt.

“At the time…Neustadt said that Hevesi’s office was “focused on finding the tape, taking care of the employees, and making sure this doesn’t happen again,” Callaghan said.

“He has also said that Hevesi had received permission from the Ethics Commission to drive his wife around, but given the Ethics Commission’s assertion to the contrary, Mr. Neustadt is developing a credibility problem.”

Neustadt, who’s getting quite a flak workout lately, confirmed today that the tape has yet to be recovered.